COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, we at WLTX have bittersweet news. After 27 years on air, our award-winning journalist Darci Strickland is leaving to start a new chapter in her life. Her final day at News19 will be Wednesday, July 31.
“After 27 years in broadcast journalism, it is time for me to close this chapter and embark on a new path,” Darci said. “It has been an honor to bring you the news, tell your stories, and be a part of your daily lives.”
Darci has spent her career advocating for the public and highlighting community successes. Her love for the area, infectious smile, and deep empathy have made her a trusted and respected journalist in South Carolina.
Darci grew up in Ladson, South Carolina, and graduated from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She joined WLTX in 1997 as a reporter and weekend weather anchor. In 1998, she moved to the morning newscast as an anchor and meteorologist, teaming up with J.R. Berry for the next 26 years. In 2002, they moved to the evening newscasts, and in 2007, she co-anchored Friends at Five with Andrea Mock.
Beyond anchoring, Darci worked on special assignments and became WLTX’s most requested speaker, addressing schools, charities, churches, and other groups statewide. She is also the main spokesperson for Buddy Call 19, promoting self-breast examinations.
Darci has earned multiple Emmy Awards, an Alfred I. DuPont Award, and an Edward R. Murrow Award. In 2023, she received the South Carolina Broadcasters Association Masters Award for her significant contributions to broadcasting. She was also named the 2019 SCBA Anchor of the Year and the 2009 SCBA TV Personality of the Year.
Darci is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She has been married to her husband Torrey for 20 years and is the mother of three daughters: Logan, Layla, and Lauren.
WLTX will be celebrating Darci’s impactful career and contributions to the community in the days leading up to her last broadcast.